TESTS must be carried out on ground at a former industrial site earmarked for a £10 million Llanelli school to ensure it is not contaminated with a dangerous legacy.

The plan — if all goes smoothly — is to transform the defunct Draka Copperworks site into a 21st century state-of-the-art school for Seaside.

But, if the historic brownfield site proves to be unsuitable due to ground contamination caused by heavy metals, it could leave council education bosses facing some difficult decisions.

Peter Williams, of Seaside Community Association, said: "It's costing £80,000 for this survey to make sure they are not building a school on land that's poisonous.

"The site has been an industrial site for hundreds of years and no-one knows what's there.

"As an association, our preferred site is Draka because it will mean not building on the park, but a report has to be done on contamination of the land."

Controversy has dogged the siting of the new school — which would replace the existing Copperworks and Lakefield primaries — as there were fears in the community that the popular Crown Park area could have been developed.

Council spokeswoman Debbie Williams said: "We are in negotiations with the (Draka) land owner trying to get permission to go on site to carry out some tests."

Read this week's Llanelli Star for more on this story.